A fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations has highlighted the pressing issues that frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum will need to address if she wins the presidency in Mexico. The biggest challenge facing the country is identified as organized crime, with cartels and gangs expanding their territorial control. It is emphasized that Sheinbaum will need to make early progress in tackling this issue.
In addition to the organized crime problem, Sheinbaum would also inherit a rising fiscal deficit, attributed to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's significant spending campaign. Long-term issues such as migration and climate change are also on the agenda for the potential new president.
Sheinbaum, the candidate for the ruling Morena party under López Obrador, is facing an election that is viewed by some as a referendum on the policies of the outgoing president. While López Obrador's social welfare programs have benefited poorer Mexicans, his approach of 'hugs, not bullets' towards cartels has not effectively curbed criminal violence. Mexico continues to grapple with a high homicide rate and a large number of missing persons.
The lack of a credible set of proposals from the opposition has raised concerns about the country's future security. The expert quoted in the article expresses worry about the potential absence of a viable plan among political figures in Mexico to address security issues and regain control over national territory.
Sheinbaum brings with her a team from her tenure as Mexico City mayor, known for their success in improving security at a local level. However, the question remains whether she can replicate this success on a national scale if elected as president.
